Method and apparatus for exercise

ABSTRACT

An exercise device has a base, an upstanding member extending from the base, and a handgrip affixed to an upper portion of the upstanding member. The base is preferably U-shaped and has two longitudinal members that extend rearward from a forward portion of the base. The base has stiffening ribs and cutouts for allowing the base to fit between the legs of a typical chair. The handgrip has two gripping portions extending laterally and on opposite sides of the upstanding member, which is selectively detachable from the base. A user places the outer ends of the longitudinal members under the front portion of a chair and sits in the chair. The user then places his feet on the longitudinal members and grips the gripping portions of the handgrip. The user pushes downward with his feet and pulls toward his body with his hands to move the body to a standing position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to exercise devices andrelates particularly to exercise devices using body weight as aresistance force.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Various exercise devices have been invented and produced for thegeneral public directed toward the capabilities of a person of averagehealth. For those persons whose health condition is less than averagebecause of age or injury, exercise devices designed for the generalpublic may be too difficult or impossible to use or may provide littlebenefit. Those persons who have difficulty completing exercise programsusing these devices may avoid exercising altogether, which may result ina further decrease in condition. Therefore, a need exists for anexercise device and method of exercising that provides benefits topersons of limited physical capabilities.

[0005] For example, elderly people or certain handicapped persons oftenhave difficulty in getting up from a chair. A need exists for anexercise device used to strengthen the muscles needed to stand from asitting position in a chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An exercise device has a base, an upstanding member extendingfrom the base, and a handgrip affixed to an upper portion of theupstanding member. The base is preferably U-shaped and has twospaced-apart, longitudinal members that extend rearward from a forwardportion of the base. The base also has stiffening ribs to strengthen thebase and the longitudinal members against bending forces. The base alsohas cutouts for allowing the base to fit between the legs of a typicalchair. The handgrip has two gripping portions extending laterally and onopposite sides of the upstanding member, which is selectively detachablefrom the base. A user places the outer ends of the longitudinal membersunder the front portion of a chair and sits in the chair. The user thenplaces his feet on the longitudinal members and grips the grippingportions of the handgrip. The user pushes downward with his feet andpulls toward his body with his hands to move the body to a standingposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The novel features believed to be characteristic of the inventionare set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, aswell as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof,will best be understood by reference to the following detaileddescription of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device constructed inaccordance with the invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 is an exploded detail view of a portion of the exercisedevice of FIG. 1.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 and showing a userusing the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, providesa device and method of exercising for persons of limited physicalcapabilities.

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exercise device 11 has a base 13,an upstanding member 15, and a handgrip 17. Base 13 is generallyU-shaped, having a forward portion 19 from which two longitudinalmembers 21 extend rearward in a direction that is parallel to thelongitudinal centerline of base 13. Base 13 has a flat, continuous lowersurface 23 which is placed on a supporting surface, such as a floor,during use. Lower surface 23 optionally may have elastomeric or rigidfeet (not shown) attached thereto. Base 13 has an upper surface 25 thathas stiffening ribs 27 for strengthening base 13 against longitudinalbending forces. Ribs 27 are located on forward portion and extend alongthe inner edges of longitudinal members 21.

[0013] Upper surface 25 is shaped to accommodate the feet of a personusing device 11, being at least wide enough to allow a shoe of averagesize to fit on upper surface 25 of longitudinal members 21 when orientedto be parallel to the length members 21. Relief cutouts 29 are locatedat a rear outer edge portion of longitudinal members 21 for providingclearance between the legs of a typical chair (see FIG. 3). Base 13 hasa pillar 31 extending upward from a boss 33 formed on forward portion 19of base 13. Pillar 31 has a square horizontal cross-section sized to fitwithin the lower end of upstanding member 15.

[0014] Upstanding member 15 is a section of hollow square tubing havingan open lower end 35 for placing over pillar 31 when assembling device11. After lower end 35 of upstanding member 15 is placed over pillar 31,a threaded fastener 37 is inserted through hole 39 in lower end 35 toengage pillar 31, retaining upstanding member 15 on pillar 31.

[0015] Handgrip 17 comprises a transversely mounted tube or bar 41attached to upper end 43 of upstanding member 15, bar 41 beingpreferably attached by welding bar 41 to upper end 43. Bar 41 extendslaterally outward on each side of upstanding member 15 and has agripping portion 45 on each outer portion of bar 41. Gripping portions45 preferably are elastomeric grips surrounding the outer portions ofbar 41. The height of upstanding member 15 is selected to place handgrip17 about shoulder height of an average user when sitting.

[0016] During use, force is transferred from handgrip 17 to upstandingmember 15, then to pillar 31 and boss 33, and finally to base 13. Device11 is prevented from tipping rearward about forward portion 19 of base13 by the length of longitudinal members 21. Furthermore, device 11 isprevented from tipping forward by the weight of user 53 on longitudinalmembers 21. Likewise, base 13 is wide enough to limit any tendency totilt device 11 sideways during use. Stiffening ribs 27 prevent bendingof base 13 when force is applied through pillar 31 and boss 33.

[0017] In operation, assembled device 11 is placed on a rigid supportingsurface 47 with lower surface 23 directly contacting surface 47. Chair49 is positioned relative to device 11 such that front legs 51 of chair49 are located within relief cutouts 29 on longitudinal members 21. Aportion of each longitudinal member 21 extends under chair 49. User 53sits in chair 49 and places a foot 55 on upper surface 25 of eachlongitudinal member 21. User 53 grips a gripping portion 45 of handgrip17 with each hand 57. User 53 then pushes downward on surface 25 withfeet 55 and pulls rearward, or towards his body, on handgrip 17. Thecombination of these movements tends to cause the body of user 53 tomove from the sitting position to a standing position. User 53 then sitsback down and repeats the sequence. In order to provide increasedphysical conditioning, user 53 will preferably repeat the sequenceseveral times for each exercise period and for several exercise periodseach week.

[0018] The present invention has advantages in that it is an exercisedevice specifically directed to those with less than average physicalcapabilities. The device is simple to use, using the user's own bodyweight for resistance, and the exercise method uses a normal motionbetween sitting and standing positions. The device is difficult tooverturn, which is important for those with low strength or impairedbalance.

[0019] While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms, itis not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes andmodifications without departing from the spirit thereof. For example,the central area between the foot supports could be a plate rather thanbeing open.

I claim:
 1. An exercise device, comprising: a base having spaced-apart, longitudinal foot support sections extending rearward from a forward portion of the base, each of the foot support sections for receiving a foot of a user, the base adapted to rest stationarily on a floor; an upstanding member extending from the base; and a handgrip affixed to the upstanding member.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein: the handgrip comprises a gripping portion extending laterally outward on each side of the upstanding member.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein: the handgrip is affixed to an upper portion of the upstanding member.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein: the handgrip is oriented to be transverse to a longitudinal centerline of the base.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein: the base has a U-shaped configuration.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising: ribs on the base for strengthening the base against bending forces.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein: the upstanding member is selectively detachable from the base.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein: the base has relief cutouts on side edges for allowing the base to fit between a pair of legs of a chair.
 9. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a base having at least two spaced-apart, longitudinal members that define a U-shaped configuration, each of the longitudinal members having an upper surface for receiving a foot of a user, the base adapted to rest stationarily on a floor; an upstanding member extending from a forward portion of the base; a handgrip affixed to an upper portion of the upstanding member, the handgrip having a gripping portion on each side of the upstanding member and extending transversely relative to a longitudinal centerline of the base; and
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a chair adapted to rest on the floor adjacent to the base for allowing the user to sit in the chair, place his feet on the base, and place his hands on the handgrip
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the upstanding member is selectively detachable from the base.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: stiffening ribs on the forward portion of the base and on the longitudinal members for strengthening the base against bending forces.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein: the base has relief cutouts on side edges for allowing the base to fit between a pair of legs of a chair.
 14. A method of exercising, comprising: (a) providing a device having a base, an upstanding member extending upward from the base, and a handgrip at an upper end of the upstanding member; (b) placing the device stationarily onto a supporting surface adjacent a chair; then (c) sitting on the chair with one's feet on the base; (d) gripping the handgrip with one's hands; then (e) pressing downward with the feet and pulling rearward with the hands to move into a standing position; (f) sitting back down on the chair, using the handgrip as an assist; then (g) repeating steps (e) and (f) to improve one's physical conditioning. 